What are some activities for Learning Disabilities?

Props are a great way to bring some extra magic to your Happiness Programme sessions. We believe that props are incredibly useful to further develop your person-centred care when using the magic table 360. We also have some other resources on prop use, which you can find in this post.

To add another dimension to your play sessions, check out our prop list below:

Adding Sensory Props

Bubble machine/ bubble wands

Bubbles can be a great addition to our water themed games such as Bubble Burst and Pond Fishing. Blowing bubbles whilst playing these games can add a sense of realism and help bring the games to life.

You can find this pack of bubble wands for £7.79 on Amazon.

Essential Oils and a diffuser

A diffuser and essential oils are often used to enhance the sensory experience, especially for residents who experience limited mobility. Try matching the scents with the theme of the game to create a realistic atmosphere for your residents. A relaxing lavender would pair well with the twinkling stars in Star Gaze. You could try orange or grapefruit scents to12342 bring a real zing to games of Fruit patch.

You can find this 32 pack variety set for £34.99 at Etsy. 

Sugar Paper

The texture of sugar paper can be a great base for our Paint a Picture series. Brushing along this surface will allow your residents to feel as though they are really painting as they move through the light to colour in the pictures.

You can find this pack of 50 sheets for £9.99 at Amazon.

Paintbrushes or Make-up brushes

Brushes of any kind can be a good way to incorporate a sensory element into games to make them feel more realistic. Adding brushes to our painting games can allow residents to feel as though they are painting, without all of the mess and clean up of the regular activity!

You can find this 10 piece set of paintbrushes for £12.50 at Amazon. 

Or, you can find this 9 piece make-up brush set for £5.99 at Amazon.

Physical Props

Fishing nets

Fishing nets can be a fab addition for residents with limited mobility as it allows them to extend their reach and become a bit more involved in activities. This prop pairs great with our Pond Fishing game!

You can find this 5 pack for £9.68 at Amazon. 

Fly swatters

Fly swatters, like any extended prop, are a great way to get your less mobile patients involved in Happiness Programme sessions as it allows for them to reach spaces and interact without having to move in unnatural or strenuous ways. They can also provide a bit of fun and excitement to games and allow for some friendly competition with games like Bubble Burst and Balloon Pop.

You can find this pack of 10 for £5.99 at Amazon.

Air Hockey handles or coasters

Air Hockey handles can make a game of Air Hockey feel much more meaningful and can be easily cleaned or sterilised for use with resident’s friends and families. The same effect can be achieved by sliding drinks coasters across a flat surface to recreate those motions in a way that feels a bit more true to life.

You can find a two pack of Air-Hockey handles for £4.67 at Amazon. 

Or, you can try this 6 pack of coasters for £1.64 at Amazon.

Whiteboard

Whiteboards can be an excellent tool for taking the magic table 360 to residents in their beds.  The flat and plain surface is perfect for games of Air Hockey or something more relaxing like Autumn Leaves.

Magician’s wand

A magician’s wand can be a really fun addition to any of our games. Bring a little bit of wonder and curiosity to Happiness Programme sessions with this prop. It’s not called the magic table 360 for nothing!

You can find this magician’s wand for £1.74 at Amazon.

Foam Noodles

Foam noodles are a lightweight, easy to hold prop that can help increase the range of movement for people with limited mobility. This type of prop can work well with games that require sweeping or tapping motions such as Paint a Picture, Bubble Burst and Autumn Leaves.

You can find this four pack for £14.79 at Amazon.

Fruit

Fruit can help make games of Fruit Patch feel more realistic by allowing residents to physically feel the fruit they are sorting. It can also be a healthy snack to celebrate after playing!